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Sunday, February 3

Last Updated June 11, 2007
CBC News
Sue Rodriguez fought the law prohibiting assisted suicide all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, but lost. (CP Photo) In 1992, Sue Rodriguez forced the right-to-die debate into the spotlight in Canada. In a video statement played to members of Parliament, the Victoria woman, diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in 1991, asked lawmakers to change the law banning assisted suicide.
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156 comments:

Is it just me or has anyone else thought what assisted suicide really is; murder. I do feel that any human being has the right to inflict whatever harm on their own body they desire, but once a death is “assisted”, then it is just murder. Anyone “assisting” in a suicide should be tried just like any other murderer. I have never been in or around a situation like suicide but the concept is seemingly very selfish. There will always be a grey area on what is humane in dire situations, but I think that the only time when a physician or family should decide whether or not a live should be ended is when the physician or family requests to remove life support.

I do support legislation that legalizes assisted suicide but only to terminally ill patients.I think a law like the state of oregon where two doctors must declare you terminally ill and you have to request lethal drugs at least three times and in writing is fair to patients.These are patients who have to live with chronic pain and are just waiting to die , madication isn't stoping there pain so they turn to the only option they have left.How can we deny another human there right to make a choice about there own life just for political reasons.

What usually happens to a horse if it undergoes a serious leg injury during a track race? or, What does the veterinarian suggest when your beloved dog sparky has reached the end of his lifetime and has become ill? If society is humane enough to put animals out of their misery why cant we do the same for human beings? I don't understand why assisted suicide is illegal in most states especially when a person is suffering from a chronic illness. In situations where a person has been diagnosed with an incurable disease the person should have the choice of fighting the illness or have their suffering ended. Sue Rodriguez's statement was very correct, how can someone tell me what I cant do with my life when they don't have the illness and know exactly what I'm going through? In my opinion people who are against assisted suicides are worse than murderers. They would allow someone to continue suffering from something incurable when the odds are they wont survive the illness. Many patients, such as the lady in the article, end up committing suicide anyways. It would be safer and more humane to put the person down calmly than have the person kill themselves out of desperation.

Im all over about this subject. When you have a dog and he is old and sick and cant do anything we put him down. It ends the suffering and he is peacful again. With a human though its a little more complicated. If their beyond the point of thinking for themself its not AS bad. But if they are to the point where they are in so much pain they just want to die I dont see whats stopping them from doing it on their own unless they are physically unable. I have worked in a nursing home before and I've seen the many different mental stages of a progressivly degenerative person. It is heartbreaking to watch them unable to function on a normal basis and their everyday norm is being physically and socially dependent on an aid. I dont know what the circumstance would have to be for me to completely agree with euthanization of a person. Its hard enough doing it to your dog. I honestly felt like I had taken my dog to be murderd..If I cant accept that with an animal Im not sure how well I could make that choice with a loved one. In the case of Terry Schiavo if they were going to do it they shouldnt have starved her. They shouldnt use that method for anyone. If any action would be taken to end the life of someone who is suffering I would hope it would be by lethal injection. Otherwise Im unsure of my opion.

do support the legalization of assisted suicide to those who can't be helped, especially for those who end up like Terry Schiavo. As far as the Schiavo case though I am not sure if you could really call it suicide because she didn't ask to die, and many people believed she was dead anyway, although her bodily systems was still operational. For those who are terminally ill it's hard to wait to die, and know that within the next few days, months, years, whatever you are going to cease to exist. Not to mention the suffering that they must endure in that time period. If they wish to die earlier and not endure such hardship, what problem does that cause? Those who help them to die aren't really murderers, but people who are helping to ease off the suffering. If you wish to stick out the rest of your life in such a condition, you can stay. But for those who want to go now, why prolong the suffering?

Well, the idea makes sense... if someone is heart set on not living anymore due to their illness they should be able to just end the suffering. But, I think the primary concern of everyone opposing it is the rest of the family. I know if I had a grandparent or someone in my family that was very close to being dead I would want as much time for them to be alive as possible. Perhaps for this to be legalized they should have consent of the family as well? I agree with practically everyone who has posted thus far before me on the terminal illness issue here. If they are practically gone already, they should definitely be allowed to end the suffering before it naturally occurs.

Ok, I do believe that assisted suicide should be legalized in the case of people living with a terminal illness. I do agree with the the steps that Oregon has in place for those who wish to end their misery. I don't think that they should get consent from anyone other than the person that is terminally ill. Poeple say that suicide is selfish. Well, I think that it is selfish of those families that want to keep the beloved around as long as possible. I mean you care so much about getting to spend time with them and don't care enough about the state of mind or physical pain that they are in. I have made two family members in the last couple of years that died slow and in severe pain. Their agony hurt me. The pain that they were going through turned them into a completely different person. If they had been able to choose to end their life due to the amount of pain they were in and actually choose to do so, I would have stood behind their decision. I mean it would be hard knowing that they were going to leave this place, but I would find comfort in the fact that they would no longer be in pain. This is my opinion and nobody has to agree with it.

I oppose all forms of suicide. I think that it is not right to take a life...even your own. I also think that assisted suicide is nothing more that MURDER. I can imagine that people suffering A LOT of pain may want to die, but it isn't right to kill yourself EVER. It's one thing to refuse treatment...but asking someone to help you die...THAT'S WRONG! I guess that suicide is a choice like anything else, but I DEFINITELY DON'T SUPPORT IT! IT'S WRONG IN MY EYES!

I do not support the legalization of assisted suicide. I believe that if someone wishes to take their own life then that is one thing; however, when you allow other people to “assist” in such a personal and desperate act then you are crossing a line. I also believe that legalizing assisted suicide now with the current stipulations on it may lead to those rules being changed later on. For example, twenty years from now it may be decided that you only need one doctor’s consent, and then possibly no consent, just your own free will. The government should have nothing to do with the decision of whether or not a person lives or dies. Also, in the case of Schiavo, I do not agree with the state’s decision to allow her to starve to death, as well as go without water. She was responsive to her mother and father (she laughed when her father’s beard tickled her chin, and she was able to say “I love” to her mother). Allowing someone to starve to death is inhumane and cruel. People go to jail for starving their pets, yet this woman was legally allowed to starve to death.

I’m not sure where I stand on this. I can understand people in pain may want an escape, but you would think they would consider the wishes of their family. It seems like the ultimate selfish act. To cause so much pain on so many people to end your own pain. It’s almost like a pain transfer. I suppose it would be ok but I think it should be a lengthy process. Like over the course of five years you have to attend psychotherapy and receive a diagnosis from a psychiatrist that you aren’t mentally ill and capable of cognitively making this decision. Also I believe family should have a good portion of weight when it comes to granting the procedure.

Assisted suicide is a topic to be debated, obviously. In my own opinion, I think that under certain conditions assisted suicide is acceptable. I think it is acceptable if in some way the patient can show a conscious need or want for the end of their suffering and cannot conduct it themselves. I am unsure on where my opinion stands when we talk about how technology is prolonging life even more than in past years. I knwo that we are prolonging life longer than most want to even be alive. I think "living" stops when one enters enbearable pain. "Living" under these conditions is not really "living" at all. I know that if I were in such pain that I would want my life ended, I would end it myself if I had the choice. However, most people that are in such pain do not have the option to end it themselves. So then, back to my first statement; If the person in pain can certainly defer that they are in enough pain that they would like assisted suicide, then I think it should be granted. The person in health debating over assisted suicide has never been that near death and that near pain that they cannot accurately judge whether or not it should be allowed.

I believe in the legalization of assisted suicide. Unlike what mledoux said, I think that it is wrong to not help someone if they were terminally ill. Though the bigger picture of suicide is in my opinion also, selfish; to keep someone withstand pain and suffering is a crime in itself. I mean, if my mom was lying in a bed dying slow and painfully and she asked me to pull the plug, I'm not gonna say no because it's illegal. She deserves better.

I believe that they should allow assited suicide. I do not think that if someone is in bed dieing slowly they should have to lay there and go through that. I think that is like someone going through torture, if there is a way to prevent someone going through torture i think he or she should be helped. There are exceptions though, the person that is requesting this has to be sane, and understanding what he or she is requesting. I also think that it should be written out on paper because if not there will be many lawsuits happening.

I fully support the legislation in legalizing assisted suicide. My grandpa passed away just 5 months ago. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease which eventually led to Dementia. Every time I went to go visit him in the hospital, it had gotten worse. Not only did he forget who my family and I were, but he could not even remember who he was or what year he was living in. It brought me to tears to see him suffer in such a paralyzed struggle to remember. Seeing with my own eyes how this disease is genetic, and that this fatality could cause an epidemic in my family, I believe that if a person is suffering from a terminal illness such as this Alzheimer’s disease, or AIDS, they should be allowed to terminate their own life, with the assistance of a physician of course. I'd rather be put out of my misery then to be living in an absent-minded world with any reason to live on.

I believe that if someone has a incurable disease or is in excruciating pain all the time they should have the choice take ones life or be able to have assisted suicide. Oregon has it right to require you to have 2 doctors declare you terminally ill first. Why should anybody be able to tell theses people that they have to live with their illness or pain until they die. If medication isn't easing their pain then what other choice do they have than to end their life. It is not selfish on that person part to end their life either no one but that person can decide whether or not their life is worth continuing besides them.

A comment by dwtch has raised the topic of technology prolonging life. Another angle is given by an article on the site of the University of California in San Francisco, titled "Prolonging life or death? Exploring the dilemma of medical intervention."

Think of a cat or dog that has been in a family for 15 years but has come down with an illness. Doctors and society alike suggest that we put that animal down to relieve it of its misery. Nobody has expressed any ill feelings towards this practice and I don’t see why they should if it’s a suffering human. However, I can see that, because it’s a human life it means much more to many uninvolved people. This should not have an effect on the decision at the state or federal level, for if someone who is suffering from a terminal illness has absolutely no hope of survival, or even improvement, they should be able to end their own life. If the person can’t choose what happens to their own future, who is allowed.

Assisted suicide is on both sides of the fence for me . I can agree with what was said how if the people are really ill and in pain if they want to die and the doctors agree then I think they should help them, otherwise they might just do it themselves. The only thing I don’t agree with is that the state has so much involvement on our bodies how they can deny those sick people peace and rest.

We should mention that legislation in some countries has moved even further by legalizing euthanasia. In assisted suicide a physician assists the patient to commit suicide. In euthanasia it is the doctor himself that administers the medication which will terminate the patient's life. Here is a BBC article on the subject.

I copy from the article:"The legislation allows patients experiencing unbearable suffering to request euthanasia, and doctors who carry out such a mercy killing to be free from the threat of prosecution, provided they have followed strict procedures. "

Also if you go here you will see some interesting audio and video links on the matter.

I think that if someone has a permanent disorder or is in agonizing pain for a long period of time they should have the option to take ones life. I know that if I had an incurable disease and I knew I wasn’t ever going to be able to do anything on my own again I wouldn’t want to live. What is living if you can’t actually enjoy Life? I mean normally I would say if you help take someone’s life you are morally just as wrong as a cold blood killer but, people that will suffer the rest of their lives I think have that right to decide what to do.

Refusing to accept medical treatment knowing that without it you will die is one thing, however, when another person is involved in “helping” a person die; it becomes an assist to murder. Whether the person chooses to die or not, it is still murder. Who’s to say that the patient actually wants the doctors’ help in dying anyways? If your friend wanted to shoot himself and he asked you to do it for him because he couldn’t do it and you took your gun and shot him, you would be convicted of murder. It doesn’t matter if he told you to or not. I don’t believe that suicide is the solution to any problem and no one should do it, but murder or “assisted suicide” is much worse and most definitely should be illegal.

Boy this is tough, I do believe in never giving up, I have a lot of Hope and a lot of Faith, and I know it will always get better. Assisted Suiside is beyond my imagination, I feel in some cases it might be a sign of giving up, you'll never know if it will get better or not.

On the other hand how can we not allow a person to make their own decisions? There are terminal deseases that are toucheur on the body and brain. Why should we make these people suffer?

There are times when I feel like a person should be able to choose death over suffering. Someone with a terminal illness who has been through all available medical procedures and treatments to no avail should ultimately hold the ability to decide not to fight anymore.

Some guidelines should be in place though. For example, a patient's case should be reviewed by a medical board to be sure that all available options have either been exhausted or are at least known to the patient, and a DNR order should already be in place. Prior to execution of the assisted suicide the patient should be required to meet with a counselor to ensure that the patient is capable of making this decision with a sound mind. Family counseling should be made available to the patient's family.

This is certainly not a situation that should be taken lightly, and surely would not be. Assisted suicide is only viable when ALL options are exhausted and the patient has no chance of recovering. In cases where this is a choice that would be made, I would think a DNR would already be in place, and the assisted suicide would be a way for the patient to avoid spending what is certainly his or her last few days on this earth in pain.

I think suicide is suicide and I am very opposed to it no matter what! I BELIEVE IN GOD AND IT’S A SIN TO KILL YOURSELF OR ANYONE ELSE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!! I also think its wrong for a doctor to help you to kill yourself even if you are suffering and in pain. I think it’s horrible for anyone to be in that kind of predicament being faced with no other option than to die. I cannot even image!!! Someone must be going through a lot of pain to get to the point of wanting assisted suicide. I don’t how that would feel, maybe if I was terminally ill and suffering I would want to die probably- so I cant say whether I am against it or not!

To be completely honest, I have no idea what I would believe in. I understand people go through pain and those, in which, cannot be helped wish to die. If you go by my religion, however, that is another story. To me, any suicide is a sin and is wrong. To others, it can be a help to relieve prolonged pain. If it were me to decide which is right, I would not be able to answer. People should have a right to their own body. The only person that should have any say would be yourself. Would you want someone else to say whether you have to live or not when all you really want to do is die? Therefore, I do not oppose nor do I agree with assisted suicide. I am simply neutral.

Yes, I support the legslation that legalized assisted suicide. I believe every human being has the right to do whatever they impose. I am a licensed practical nurse and I work with a lot of individuals who have diseases that are not curable. Yes, a lot of them are happy to still be alive and the other half wants to die because they feel like a burden to their families. See, I think the reason why most individuals with irreversible diseases want to kill themselves is because they feel uncomfortable with other people helping them with the activities of their daily lives when they have been independent for many many years. Also, thinking of how their lives use to be draw them into depression so they think the only way out of this pain is death. When i got into the medical field my intention was to save lives which still will always be. But, when you meet these individuals you try to do everything possible to make them happy and if committing assisted suicide is what they want I feel you have to let them do it even if you don't like it.

I believe the reason for suicide determines whether it should be right or not. For those who have a terminally ill health issue assisted suicide helps them to escape their pain. Some people believe it would be easier to have someone help them to end their life without pain instead of suffering for years. I understand how people would think it's murder to end a life, but then again isn't it legal to terminate a pregnancy? Through assisted suicide the person who wishes to end their life actually has a choice in the matter. Living for years in pain is not necessary. Not only does that one individual live with the pain but their family does as well. Murder is defined as slaughtering inhumanly. It is not inhuman to save someone from pain. Nor is it inhuman to help someone.

I believe that anyone an everyone has the rite to determine what happens to them especially when it comes to living an dieing.If you are assisting in a sucide out of mercy i believe there is nothing wrong with that as long as that is truely what the person wants. i belive this will be a continued issue for many years to come because of the many diverse opinions everyone is intitled to.

I do not believe in any kind of suicide. Suicide is suicide, and as Michelle said above, it is a sin to kill yourself or anyone else. I do think it is very unfortunate that a person with a painful terminal illness would have to suffer enough to want to take their life. But things in life happen, like pain, suffering, and dying. I would not be asking some doctor for assistance in suicide if it were me. I would be praying to God to bring me to peace with Him. If he did so, I would know that was the will he had for my life. If he did not, I would know that it was not my time to return to glory. Suffering and in pain, or not. As odd as it may seem to some, there is a reason for everything.

I do support legislation that legalizes assisted suicide. It is up to the individual to make decisions about their life. I do think there should be guidelines however. It should only be allowed to be used in terminally ill cases. People suffering from depression or other mental illnesses should not be assisted in suicide, but instead re-directed to psychologists who can help them. Also, like with purchasing guns, where there is a waiting period before you can take it home. there should be a similar waiting period for assisted suicide, allowing the patients to think things through thoroughly before making such an enormous decision.

I am against assisted suicide because no matter what the situation for someone, killing of some shape or form is taking life away. Assisted suicide is suicide no matter how people word it or say it differently. Just like it said in the article, "whose body is this?", "who owns my life?" is the question that people should be asking when it comes to assisted suicide. Just because a person is affected with an incurable disease doesn't mean that they should attempt suicide. People should encourage them to live their life to the fullest or at least till their body can handle it. Assisted suicide is just wrong, period, and it shouldn't be legalized in any parts of the country. Suicide is sin, like it said in the Bible, and no one should commit suicide no matter what their situation may be.

I have mixed feelings on this subject. I technically don't agree with assited suicides, but personally I think people should still be allowed to request not to be resuscitated. I think if it was made legal there would be a lot of people wanting to do it on a spur of the moment thing, just because they were depressed and not becuase they have a terminal illness and are going to die anyway. But at the same time, I feel that if it were still illegal people would kill themselves anyway and that's just as bad. It's a hard subject for me and I don't think I could make a decision.

To me, assisted suicide is murder!! I completly understand that their are many pepole in the world today that are very ill and will die sooner than other. But! to me being alive is what I love. I know I can't speak for those who are ill and want to kill themselves, but i do know that if you want to end your life, "do it youurself", do ask someone to help. It is your pain and suffering, not that person whos helping you.

I think that assisted suicide should defiantly be legal. If the patient in question wants to die for serious reasons like extreme pain etc, then I don’t think the person helping should get arrested. Assisted murder can be done in a civil matter and doesn’t have to sound as bad as the first posted noted. Doctors that prescribe a drug that a patient wants or needs don’t make them a murderer. That would be like calling them drug dealers for prescribing xanax and percocet. If the patient in question has a reason for wanting to die and goes through a serious of steps to verify that, then I feel they SHOULD have a better way out. The older lady in the article was lucky for finding a doctor that would risk what he did. If she never received prescribed pills, she might have chosen to end her life by jumping off a bridge or blowing her brains out. She got to die in the comfort of her own home in a more humane way then what could have happened if that doctor didn’t give her pills.

I think that assisted suicide should defiantly be legal. If the patient in question wants to die for serious reasons like extreme pain etc, then I don’t think the person helping should get arrested. Assisted murder can be done in a civil matter and doesn’t have to sound as bad as the first posted noted. Doctors that prescribe a drug that a patient wants or needs don’t make them a murderer. That would be like calling them drug dealers for prescribing xanax and percocet. If the patient in question has a reason for wanting to die and goes through a serious of steps to verify that, then I feel they SHOULD have a better way out. The older lady in the article was lucky for finding a doctor that would risk what he did. If she never received prescribed pills, she might have chosen to end her life by jumping off a bridge or blowing her brains out. She got to die in the comfort of her own home in a more humane way then what could have happened if that doctor didn’t give her pills.

I am indifferent to the legislation of assisted suicide only because if someone wants to die or kill themselves then they will come to that conclusion and action one way or another. I feel that if someone wants to end their own life then it is their own right to. Most people say that the one’s that try or actually do kill themselves are imbalanced and are insane. For anyone who wants to watch a great movie, The Ordinary Life of David Gale is an excellent film that portrays this dilemma of assisted suicide. I do agree that assisted suicide can my construed as murder, however, if someone really wants to kill themselves they are going to regardless if they are assisted or supervised. The only thing that assisted suicide does is ensure the fact that they are actually going to cease to exist. If one was to go the route of assisted suicide one better be positive that they do not want to live anymore because there are no mishaps usually and you most likely will not be resuscitated.

I am kind of half and half on this point. Take for example we do pass this legislation then we are going to have people abusing the law like killing people for example. On the other hand though the legislation would really help those who are dying a very painful death. In other words euthanasia should be allowed only under very extreme circumstances like take for example someone is dying from bone cancer and there is no way to help them. In those cases you should be allowed to use euthanasia. The one thing that’s bothers me the most is if this legislation is past then our murder rate will sky rocket because we are allowing euthanasia. I understand that there are those special cases out there and they are more common then we think; I just don’t know if I am willing to let our murder rates go off the charts because our murder rate is already too high. I don’t want to just keep adding to it. We have to think about society and not just those special cases because there are a bunch of special cases out there and if we tried to fix every one then our society would go under. The bigger picture with this is the legislation shouldn’t be past.

I agree with the concept of legalizing assisted suicide. I agree with having requirements for the patient to have two or maybe even three doctors declaring them terminally ill and making sure the patient is mentally stable to understand their request. By having it requested three times as well as in writing I think makes it thorough. I think if someone is dieing and are in severe pain I find it cruel and inhumane to force them to continue on in such a state. I understand that some my argue that maybe if the person just waited "long enough" that who knows maybe a cure might turn up? But again I say its up to the person having to deal with the pain. Ultimately if someone wants to die that badly they could end up carrying it out in much worse ways. Just like the woman in the article she still found way, luckily she found someone to help make it painless. I pity those who are in such circumstances and I pray I nor anyone I know goes through such a scenario.

I'm all for it. I feel that every person should be allowed to make their own life decisions; as long as you are not harming anyone else. A doctor isn't committing murder when he "assist" suicide. That patient made the decision to give up the fight on their own. You don't think the doctor pledged his life to healing others? Think of this as a way of healing their suffering. At least then these people who are determined to end the agony won't jump off a building. They aren't just handing out forms to commit suicide. They are making a judgment call, that is DEEPLY requested by the person who's life is at stake.

In my opinion, physician assisted suicide should not be legalized because it defeats the ultimate purpose of a doctor’s goal which is to save lives, not take them. The Encarta Dictionary states that murder is the crime of killing another person deliberately and not in self-defense. If by now one hasn’t grasped the concept that doctors purposely taking lives is a disservice to humanity, then what is? Patients continuously get away with suicide by simply letting their doctors do it for them. Some don’t see it as murder, but assisted suicide definitely isn’t a natural death. Physicians should feel guilt, not only because they’re taking lives, but also because they’re getting away with a cold-blooded crime. Yes, there are some understandable points to these acts like assisted suicide causes suffering patients to be at ease, but morally and logically it’s wrong because doctors are helping patients who desire to kill themselves commit suicide. I think it's pretty hypocritical to learn how to save lives but at the same time take them away. I think that doctors who are willing to go against saving lives, no matter what the circumstances are, should be frowned upon.

I do not feel comfortable with allowing assisted suicide to be legal. Eventually it will probably evolve into making murder legal in "certain circumstances" or in this case a form of suicide. I suppose if people are like of life support, maybe..I'm not sure how that works, but still. I think if we were put on earth then maybe we should make the best of it even in sickly states. You do not see little kids giving up when they have cancer, so I think it is good inspiration to follow in their little steps and stop looking at all the negative in life and health, and start being optimistic. I do not agree with legalizing assisted suicide.

dont agree. but do agree god has a time set for a person's death. basically a person is trying to shorten their life when its not their time to go so it would be suicide. all i can say on this is a person sometimes have to deal with situation in life that causes them to want to kill them selfs. u never know what the outcome may be if you try to pull through it. it take time and years to over come problems in life but i believe its a test from god to see how strong a person is and if a person fails then they will all ways feel depressed, sad, angry, frustrated, want to die, lonely, helpless, and etc. so praying is the key i believe in cases like these. and trust me the holy ghost is real and one touch of that you know god is right be yourside through thick and thin.

I actually had to think very hard about this subject, but came to the conclusion that I would support it. Assisted suicide is a hard subject to take a side on. I believe it should be allowed because anyone who is in pain or dying, should have a decision, about what happens with their life. The same thing happens with animals at the vet, except in that situation, the animal does not give their consent. There is a law about animal cruelty, but euthanasia does not throw up a red flag. You should not be forced to live with pain, and suffering if you choose not to.

I do believe there should be a long legal process to assisted suicide. There should be substantial proof that the patient really wants what they say they do, and a reason for this choice. People should have the final word about what happens with their life.

I feel that committing suicide is the most selfish act that anyone can do. However if someone feels that they are really in a lot of pain, and feel they would be better off dead, then I don't see why they aren't aloud to have a peaceful death. I feel that being injected with a needle to die would allow people to deal with the death better then the victim jumping off a bridge, or jumping in front of a train to kill themselves. I think that this is a serious thing that the United States should look at legalizing.

Some of you sated that there should be certain conditions to be met before a doctor helps a patient commit suicide. Those preconditions exist. Assisted suicide is reserved for terminal patients who are in deep pain.

What is becoming acceptable in the US is the idea of TS (terminal sedation.)Doctors that have opposed assisted suicide have supported TS as an ethical choic. Dr. Ira Byock, a public opponent of assisted suicide, co-authored with Dr Timothy Quill, a supporter of assisted suicide, an article in support of TS. The example they used in the article was the story of a radiologist suffering from brain cancer who wanted to die because he was losing his ability to function independently. The radiologist wanted to stop all his medications, as well as eating and drinking but he wanted the process to be pain-free.

So does this relate in any sense to the living wills many of us have signed? Have you read what we are signing? We make a decision to refuse medication even if that hastens death. And despite the dangers that loom, many people don't think twice when it comes to deciding about themselves. They do not want to linger on...

I agree that a seriously ill person has the right to choose to end their life voluntarily. As stated in the article if you can’t choose to end your life than whose body is it? Obviously there has to be policies in place to ensure the patient has been diagnosed correctly, is terminally ill, undergoes a mental evaluation and two physicians sign off in agreement. I do not feel this compares to the selfish suicide that occurs due to depression or loss of job, loved one or relationship. This is an individual in extreme pain, generally unable to function alone and has been diagnosed with days, months or years to live with no cure. Therefore, if the individual has made a conscious decision to end their own life who has the right to step in the way? The doctors assisting these individuals should not be punished or looked down upon either. As others have mentioned we do not label vets as murders so why would we label doctor’s murders? Why is it acceptable to put an animal out of their misery but unacceptable to end the pain and misery of a terminally ill human? For those who oppose your position may change if the individual seeking relief were you or someone close to you.

If you want to die you want to die. It is your choice to commit suicide and no one else. Denying someone this right is just silly. No matter if it is a moral issue, religious issue, or legal issue, the only one that should have this choice is the person wanting to do it. Would you rather have them blow there head of with a shotgun? I think not, that would be to messy. If someone kills themselves nothing can happen to them any ways, so I honestly don't know what the issue is. Let people die if they want to die.

Legalizing assisted suicide would be take a long process on it because the problem deals with the personal matter for each individual who is actually has different case like in Rodriguez’s case and Karen Ann Quinlan’s case. I am in the neutral side for this topic. I do support the legislation in a case like Quinlan’s story, for it would be the best way not only to ease off her suffering which has no possible way to be recovered but also to help her family not seeing their lovely one life in misery. On the other hand, approving the assisted suicide seems give people who suffer in terminally ill no hope in their life. It probably motivates them to end up their life without being optimistic. My personal faith is no matter how suffer we are, there would be a time for us to leave this world in God’s will.

What is the difference between assisted suicide and euthinizing an animal? It is legal to put a dog or cat to rest if the animal is to old or fatally injured beyond repair. Furthermore, what about capital punishment? What about abortion?After following the "Dr. Death" case in Michigan, I have to agree with assisted suicide. I believe that if we as pet owners have the right to end an animals life, and veterinarians can administer a lethal injection into an animal, then why can't a person decide whether or not they want to die.At the present time, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, recently had a seminar at the University of Florida, a crowd of 4,867 attended. Certainly Kevorkian is becoming quite a popular person by his supporters.In 1991, the State of Michigan revoked Kevorkian's privilage to practice medicine or work with patients, however, from that point he then assisted in nearly one hundred deaths of terminally ill people between 1991 and 1998.After administering a lethal injection into one man, finally the courts decided to challenge Kevorkian and imprison him.On December 26,1999, Kevorkian was charged with second degree-homocide, and sentenced for 10-25 years in Jackson Prison. That was 1999 it is now 2008, Jack Kevorkian gave a speech at the University of Florida on January 15, 2008, and living peacefully in Michigan. Although, he assisted in the death of nearly a hundred people in less than ten years. The real question is this: Is Kevorkian real a mass murderer? And if he is, why didn't the justice system stop him in 1992?I really believe that our society really wants to accept this level of death. After all, if it were you, ask yourself this, would you want to burden you signifigant others, or live in terminal pain?

Its hard for me to decide whether to support it or not. On the one side I do support the legalization of assisted suicide. I feel it is only right though if it is for terminally ill people or for people who have severe pain every waking minute of their life. If the person has been diagnosed correctly and there is no other hope for them, then why should they have to live their life and suffer through pain? But, on the other hand, I don't support it because it is just like murder. If it were me that was assisting someone in their own death, I couldn't do it. I think that too many people would find a loop hole around it just to get rid of a person even if the person isn't ill. Ultimately, I would have to say I aggree with the assisted suicide if their if several forms of verification that the person is terminally ill and is ready to end the pain and suffering.

This subject seems to be controversial. I agree that assisted suicide should be legalized. I think a person should have control over their own life and if they choose to end it because they are tired of suffering, so be it. Being terminally ill is something I’m sure most of us wouldn't understand, myself included. I would imagine having some disease or condition that we know will soon end our life would be terrifying. If I was terminally ill and knew I was going to die a painful death, I might question the alternative. If there was a way I could die peacefully as opposed to suffering a natural death because of an illness, I would probably choose to go peacefully. I think we, as adults, should have that choice.

If someone wants to die, under certain circumstances, let them. By that point, they are already dead, figuratively. Many of us have never been put in such a situation where we would want to die, so who are we to judge whether this is wrong or not? The day that I am too sick and incapacitated to take care of myself anymore, I hope someone pulls the plug for me. I do not want to suffer, and I don’t want my family to see me deteriorate before their eyes. Everyone else just relax and open your mind alittle bit. And if you have a sense of humor, imagine how some of the doctors may feel…

“I do the ‘getting rid of’Don't tell me whyDon't need to hear the truthDon't need the liesNow pay me quicklyAnd now we're throughIt brings me great pleasureTo say my next job is youDon't you know thatKilling is my businessAnd business is good You'd better believe it!”

I am still unsure about this agreement. I can see both sides of the story. Yes, I do think that someone who has a chronic disease AND is in unbearable pain all the time should have the right to choose their own death. Of course I also think that this death process should be one that is a long and thought out and approved by many people before it is actually done. People do crazy things when they are in pain and some might regret it later on. But, I also think that many people could abuse this law and take their lives when they should not be. For example, if some who got AIDS, wanted to end their life just because they could live with themselves any more, that would be abusing the law.

While i haven't seen a law in the bible that prohibits suicide, the bible does offer it's opinions on the situation in one way or another. Saul commits suicide as his army is being defeated at a major battle. If you look at what led up to this suicide, you can see that saul was kind of letting the crown get to his head.

Obviously, assisted suicide based on terminal illness is a different situation. In the case of diseases, the bible tells us to quarantine the diseased people while allowing the priests to take care of them with food, water, shelter, and monitoring their illness.

The bible also teaches us that our body is sacred, and that gashing or slicing it is forbidden. Non-violent means of intentional harm are acceptable. Drinking "bitter" (unsanitary) water to recieve a judgement from god according to how your body reacts to the bitter water.

In short the bible doesn't exactly condone assisted suicid. Even the bible does not deny that people have a right to make thier own decisions and recieve god's judgement accordingly.

I feel the only legally assisted suicide should be euthanasia and there should be extremely strict rules governing this procedure. I was taught by my father who is a son of a farmer that if an animal is suffering the humane thing to do is to put the creature out of its misery by killing it. None the less a person isn’t an animal but if our morals are against allowing animals to suffer than why do we force people who are in pain with terminal illness to suffer. Some may argue that as humans we have options such as pain medication to cop with pain related suffering form terminal illness. But who wants to live taking heavy duty narcotics every three hours which cause you to sleep 80% of the time any ways. Is that really a life worth living?

I support assisted suicide, honestly. I feel that it is your own body and if you want to end it, then that is your right. Who is anyone else to say differently? If you have never been diagnosed with a fatal illness or a chronic pain disease then Im sure we can not even come close to imagining the suffering they endure. Why should they just have to wait around and suffer till they die? Who really wants to wait to die? I think Oregon has it right. If two doctors have declared that they are infact terminally ill and the patient has requested fatal drugs several times. Go ahead and let them. Some people are claiming this is murder. How so? In the article it states that usually how it works is the doctor injects the needle in them and the patient hits the switch, thus injecting the medicine. So they are technically ending their own life. Whoever is claiming that suicide is selfish needs to take a look at themselves. You want someone to suffer in agonizing pain so that you do not have to miss them? Or so their familys don't suffer. Who is being the real selfish ones here?

I do believe in the right to asssisted death. If someone is in permanent crucial pain, or has a noncurable disease, then it should definately be their decision if they do not want to go through the pain anymore. Sometimes these people cannot afford the treatments as well as their families. Not only are the patients going through pain, but as well is the families. I also believe their should be strict stipulations, pointing out the fact that two doctors, as well as a phychiatrist has to be involved. As long as the person is deemed compitant and has a LEGAL reason for asking a doctor to assist in his or her death, then I definately think it should be leagal.

I am from New Hampshire where the state motto is “Live Free or Die.” People should be able to do just this. When some people are terminally ill, they become the prisoner of their disease. Since they can not live free, they should have the option of death. I am pro-choice. Who is to say what a person can or can not do with their body? If a person is deemed competent, and feel like they do not want to live with suffering, they should be able to end their life with dignity.

I am from New Hampshire where the state motto is “Live Free or Die.” People should be able to do just this. When some people are terminally ill, they become the prisoner of their disease. Since they can not live free, they should have the option of death. I am pro-choice. Who is to say what a person can or can not do with their body? If a person is deemed competent, and feel like they do not want to live with suffering, they should be able to end their life with dignity.

As a religious person I dont believe in suicide. I can also understand if someone is in so much pain and sufferring that they want to end there life they should have the right to do so. Only if it's a physical pain. Not emotional "Oh i want to kill myself" drama. I know I'm contradicting myself in this topic. So I do agree because you only know when your body has taken enough and you voluntarly want to call it quits. Being assited by a doctor to end your life is better then commiting suicide is a violent way.

I think that it the person who has the terminal illnesses call whether to have the assisted suicide or not. If they want to have it done then let them. If it was me and i was dying, not only dying but dying slowly in pain then why not pull the plug early? They are heading down that road anyway right? i think it is more painful to watch a family member die slowly and miserable then to just know that they are in peace and that closure that they reassured you if was better this way.

I think if someone is in unbearable pain and they see no hope in living or in finding a cure they should just kill themselves. Not have a doctor do it. I do not believe doctors should help aid their patients in suicide. I think that is ridiculous because what if the disease that the person has at the time does not have a cure but soon after they die a cure is discovered for their illness then it is a waste, they were killed for nothing other than they were to weak and not strong enough to decide to live. They should just be appreciative of the life they have and not just want to try and take the easy way out. By taking their life in their own hands and killing their self or having a doctor do it. If they do decide to kill themselves I believe they should have to do it on their own a doctor should not kill them with pills or a lethal injection what kind of message is that sending out. A person should die whenever it is their time to go naturally.

I am not for legalizing assisted Suicides; Too me there is no difference between suicide and assisted suicide. In my Opinion only one reason qualafies for this which i do not consider sucide: if you are in a vegitated state and are living only by a mechanical tool. Unplug the cord if the family or person wishes. We have the right to refuse medication. If a doctor helps someone kill themselves they should not be doctors because they took an oath and stated that they would never harm a person. Killing them is doing so. ITS WRONG PEOPLE; if you are suicidal you have issues in your head... (not to be rude)

I think that the decision of death should be left up to the person. I do not agree with suicide and I don't think it is right by any means if the person isn't seriously ill. I believe if two doctors diagnose the patient and if the patient does not want to go on with his or her life that should be left up to them. If someone has a serious disease that is all ready killing them then why not let him or her go and then they won't have to suffer anymore. Many used the example of an animal. If the animal has some kind of problem or illness the vet will put them to sleep. The reason for this is so they don't suffer and that should be the same for humans.

I think that people have the right to determine when and how to end their lives if they suffering from incurable diseases. Like the people commit suicide, they choose ending their lives as a method to escape from the abyss of pain. In some situations, people even cannot end their lives without the help of others. They will suffer from much more pain than others. In this kind of situations, they would like to choose ending their lives with the help of the physicians and families. However, it is not easy for physicians and families to decide whether it is the condition that they can help to end a life.

I Definitely Oppose This. I Feel If Someone Kills Themselves With Assisstance From Another Person, It Is Considered Murder. The Person Could've Saved That Someone From Killing Themselves, But Instead Was There To Help Do It. Cause When I Think About It, This Person Could Be Doing This To Others That We Do Not Know About. It's Like Committing Murder Without Planning To Do So. Now The Only Time I Feel It's Not Murder Is When Someone Is Going To Die In A Hospital No Matter Which Way You Look At It, And The Person Asks For Them To Pull The Plug, Along With The Victim. Cause In A Way, That's Helping The Person Out So They Don't Have To Live Through The Tremendous Pain When They Are Hooked Up In A Hospital. But When It Comes To Helping Someone Commit Suicide Outside Of A Hospital, I Oppose It.

I am all for legalized assisted suicide. I have always believed that if a person in terminally ill, they and only they should have the right to end thier life with the assistance of a trained physician. Having had a parent suffer for many years at the hands of a fatal disease, I more than ever admire what Dr. Kavorkia did for the people he helped. I think he is a saint. Not the monster the media has made him out to be. I don't understand why anyone would want to deny a perons the right to end their suffering. We don't think twice about putting our pets down when they are suffering!

I think that if someone is in such agonizing physical pain and want to take their own life then they have the right to do so. But I dont think that a doctor who has taken an oath to help treat illness should be able to help essentially kill someone. Once the doctor starts killing people just because they asked for it then he goes against everything a "doctor" stands for. If a non physician is part of an assisted suicide I think that is murder. You cannot be part of taking another persons life even if they ask for it.

I think that assisted suicide should be legalized, but not taken lightly. I think that if a person is that miserable and wants to die that bad to let them. If the person wants to die that bad, they will find a way somehow; but, I think that this 'assisted suicide' is probably a more somewhat comfortable way for a person to go. Again, this decision should be made by the person themself. It's their own body, so that person should be able to decide what to do with themselves at the appropriate time. I think that this matter should definately not be taken lighly though. I think that there should be high regulations to do this, and that the person should be seen by a psychologist to make sure that person is in the right state of mind. Overall, I think that assisted suicide should be legal.

I must say i agree with assisted sucide. If someone is suffering unbearably, with no hope of improvement, who are we to force them to live? it should be their decision. Also, it's better to just let them die peacefully then force them to live painfully. If getting up and just living was a struggle would you wanna live? Another thing is that if someone is going to commit sucide, they are going to do it regardless. We mine as well go about it the right way and let them go peaceful.

I fully support legislation for assisted suicide, but only for patients who are suffering a great deal. i have been around many people who were suffereing a lot, one comes to mind more than others. this specific person had liver failure and cancer all within three years of each other, and i can specifically remember times when he wanted to die, not only to end his own pain, but to end the pain his family was going through seeing him in the hospital. although he never committed suicide, i still believe that he should have the right to choose for himself. one thing i really didnt see much of in this article, however, was the reequirement of a psychologist to see if they're mentally compitent to understand what they are doing. that i believe should be a requirement.

I do support the legislation’s decision to make “assisted suicide” legal for the main purpose of ending someone’s non-reversible unhappiness. I cant imagine what it would be like to live with a chronic illness and be told that there ultimately is no cure, only medication and a somewhat bed-ridden life would just ease the pain and slow the process of dying. Its not as if this law states that doctors pull the plug on every patient who in reality will eventually loose his/her life. It was passed for those who choose not to live with their illness and suffering. I did experience this situation with a grandparent and being on her third diagnosis of cancer, bed-ridden in the hospital, and fed through a tube; she wanted to go. Some people have the strength to decide that, I personally would be too scared to give someone permission to end my life. However, that’s why I agree with this law, some people are ready to put an end their illness, while others may not be so sure.

I believe assisted suicide should be an option to have, just like abortion. I believe if someone with a lethal/cronic illness they should have the choice on how to live or how to die. If people believe abortion should be legal simply so women should have the option, assisted suicide should be allowed due to the same reasons. If assisted suicide should be legalized in a similar way that it is in Oregon where it must be carried out by a licensed phyisician, if performed by anyone else it is the same as murder. No one should have to live in pain or suffer if they do not want to, if we do not legalize assisted suicide some terminally ill patients may take it upon themselves to commit suicide and have something go wrong and suffer even more. When I lived with my parents I remember having an older couple as neighbors, the man had had a couple strokes in the matter of a couple years, he had as a result lost the ability to move the right side of his body. Due to his health issues and its sideaffects on his family he then desided to kill himself. However, when he had shot himself in the head, it did not kill him and he was left for a little bit and then wound up dying several hours later in the hospital. After these events it emotionally hurt everyone in the neighborhood and made it so his wife could no longer live in the neighborhood. For all of these reasons and that life experience I fully support legalizing assisted suicide.

I believe that if someone is about to die because they caught a disease like AIDS and there is no possible cure; I htink that it is their choice if they want to live or not. Some people feel like they have nothing to live for anymore. in other times they feel like there is no hope to fight when they know theirs no cure.Why make them suffer? The USA says we have freedom then why cant we decide if we live or not. Only in the case that we have no chance anyway. If an adult been diagnosed with a disease that is not curable and they get a second opinion from another doctor that also will say that they will suffer ubtil they eventually die; they should be able to chose if they want to be killed.

I found a few videos that present both sides... although the people on the videos confuse assisted suicide with euthanasia at times. This video was made immedaitely after the release of Dr. Jack Kevorkian from prison.

I don't know how I feel about this article..Whether I should laugh or cry, smile or frown or what have you. Killing some one is killing someone, even if you are a high class doctor. I think a person should have their own choice whether to kill ourself or not but not by help!! If you kill your OWN SELF what are people going to do about it, nothing. They can't because you are already dead. I understand that people have incurable deadly diseases but that is something that is going to make you stronger in the end. Like some one told me, die with dignity.

Some of you mentioned the danger that exists when patients that are suffering simply from depression actually choose this path. This has happened in the Netherlands. In the editorial titled Assisted suicide for depression: the slippery slope in action?I copy: In June this year the Dutch supreme court convicted but declined to punish a psychiatrist, Dr Boudewijn Chabot, for assisting the suicide of a physically healthy patient who was stated by the court to have "a depressive disorder in the narrow sense."1,2 This judgment has been interpreted as "a historic ruling,"3 but outside the Netherlands it has received scant attention.4,5 Although the prosecutor general thought "that help in assistance with suicide to a patient where there is no physical suffering and who is not dying can never be justified," the supreme court rejected this contention. It explicitly accepted that euthanasia or assisted suicide might be justifiable for a patient with severe psychic suffering due to a depressive illness and in the absence of a physical disorder or a terminal condition.

The court did, however, find Chabot guilty because he had not obtained a second opinion examination of the patient by another psychiatrist and there was no independent expert evidence that "an emergency situation"6 existed - the normal mitigating defence in such cases. Although the guilty verdict could have brought with it a custodial sentence, the court elected not to punish him, on the vague grounds of "the personality of the accused, as well as the circumstances in which what has been proved to have happened took place."

I believe that a person has a right to do with they want to their body. Although I think they should try and seek help first before attempting it. If I was suffering from an illness and it was just getting worst I would rather end my life than continue with the pain and agony. Plus this would also help my family emotionally because seeing me suffer hurts them more than it hurts me. I am with assisted suicide because if the person is dying and their is nothing anyone could do then it should be the victim's decision rather he/she should live or not.

I support legislation that legalizes assisted suicide; however, I only think it is right to assist suicide with terminally ill patients. Only patients who are in critical pain, and are constantly suffering on a daily basis should be given the right to decide whether they want to live or die, and how they want to go about their death. Only patients that ask their doctors to assist their death after requesting lethal drugs at least three times and getting another doctor to approve that they are terminally ill should be allowed to attempt assisted suicide. These doctors who are helping their patient, are not considered "murderers."

Personally, I do not support the legislation that will legalize assisted suicide. I do not believe in the idea, regardless if it is assisted or not because I consider it to be a sin. I have been fortunate for not being in a serious state such as having so much pain or having been diagnosed with an incurable ailment, wherein I would consider ending my own life. Even if I were to, I would still not choose to commit suicide. This is only my opinion, therefore will not try to speak for everyone. I do understand though the reasons why assisted suicide can be viewed as an aid, a relief or an act of mercy. In a case where a family member, friend or relative of mine would wish to do so, the only thing that I can do is respect their request. Should they be in a situation where suffering is present and there is absolutely no cure or remedy, I would understand their decision even if I would not make the same choice for myself.

I support it. No one just up and decides to end there life for no reason, something had to have happened for them to feel that way. Imagine something happening that makes you feel suicidal. Now imagine that you cant even perform the act alone. If someone is willing to die by suicide but is unable to perform the act themselves, there probably going to want to end there lives sooner, I would. If a situation similar to this happened to me and there was nothing I could do, I would definitly want to hire someone. On top of that I would not want to worry about some guys in suites making the decisions for my life, thats how I feel.

I support assisted suicide. I think it is up to the patient to decide whether they want to live or not. It is weird that Dr. Chabot helped someone who only had depression, especially since the patient could commit suicide on his own. The rules set up for Oregon sound reasonable. It should be legal everywhere and I am surprised they banned it at all. If you’re able body to commit suicide yourself then no doctor should help you. I think that might help weed out some people. Maybe it’s more comforting for the patient to have a doctor there. There definitely should be guidelines; the two doctor rule is probably the best rule to have. I can’t imagine being in a situation where I couldn’t move except being able to express my feelings but if I were in that situation I would want to have the right to die by assisted suicide. It would be too much to ask a family member to help and Doctors would know the right dosages. I view it as a positive thing, someone with a lot of pain and really no life can escape it.

I do too support the ligislation to ligalize assited suicide. I have seen with my own eyes how someone you loved more than anything suffered so much because of a terminal illness. At that time much like now there were no option but to go home and die, that could be weeks or months. In the mean time the patients just lay in bed suffering terrible pain to the point they can't even open their eyes or even move at times. I don't know about everyone else, but me I rather die than to suffer because of a terminal illness. In the future if I have a terminal illness want to be able if in need the opportuniy to ask a doctor to assit in accelaratin my death. I do agree with the Oregon law where you need at least 2 doctors to agree for a physician to assit in some passing on a little quicker. We do not want this to be an excuse for murder; therefore, I do agree before anything could happen a written request is needed from the patient. Now about assited sucide for patient in depression I do not agree. Depression is not a terminal illness, it's an illness that has cure. I know because I have been clinically dignosed in the past with depression, I was even detain in a mental institution because of attemped sucide due to my depression. 8 years later I'm healthy and happy and that was all due to good counsoling and a good support system.

I would have to say that I support legislation on legalizing assisted suicide. I think it should be allowed by the terminally ill, or those having to deal with excruciating pain and no hope of improving. I agree with it because I had to watch while a loved one of mine suffered, and watched how it was a struggle for them just to breathe. I mean what's the point of living if you have to spend every minute like that. I mean it's not only painful for that person, but for the family members as well. When visiting my grandmother in the hospital my mother would just break down and cry,and I don't think I would be able to put my family in an ordeal like that again.

I oppose any form of legislation that legalizes assisted suicide. I do not believe in it either. I do understand everyone goes through a periodes in their lives where they feel down,sad, and lonely. Most of the time it appear in the time of depression, or when they have a chronic illness or permanent disabillity that they wasn't attend. I know when those moment happen it is very painful to live with but we have to understand that we did not come to this earth our self why choose to a take it away now. When we are suffering we suffer for a reason only God knows why we are suffering the way we do. Well we have to let it be sometime because we do not what's God plan is for us. We should walk by faith, not by sight as it mention in 2 corinthians 5:7. I am completely agree with what Michellel and Divineariststevie said i believe " it' a sin to kill a person life or fo a doctor to help someone to kill their life under any circumtances. It is wrong. In my opinion, i would said; when we're in pain we should suffer as much as we can and wait for our delivrance from God. God gives, God takes, Glory to his name.

A person should have the right to choose whether they live or die. But legalized assisted suicide feels to me like just a stepping stone on the road toward killing anyone that society deems useless.(i.e. the homeless, or the elderly) Why can't these people just end there own lives, why do they have to pass the responsibility on to someone else? Do they feel some moral responsibility toward god? There is no difference between opening your own veins, and letting a doctor wield the blade. These lazy people should just kill there own selves and save us all the trouble of the big debate. In addition, if doctors start performing assisted suicides then they will be completely contradicting the Hippocratic Oath they have taken.

I agree with the assisted suicide because people that were once great and possibly famous, may of got in an accident and now be feeding of a tube and looking so weak and feable. Especially when the doctor knows you will not be the same again. Should the wife or Husband have to go through the years of no companionship and having their spouses name tarnished because of the their long and motionless ending. There should be some sort of process to see if it should be aloud. Not just a yes or no question but alot of other factors should be thought of. Its not an easy thing to decide if someone should live or die because its not mans decision but if they are not really living (brain dead or completly paraylazed)then it should be an option.

i think that i would support assistant suicide, because i feel if ur not doing so good and all the person i s doing is suffering then why not pull the plug. i was watching a video in my ethics class where a young lady was on vege. state, where she couldn't move or talk or nething she was getting fed throught a tube, her parents wanted the doctor to pull the plug but the doctor refused. i think that was wrong because the girl couldn't do any thing, so why make her suffer.

When a young person commits suicide, we think, “Wow, they were so young. They had so much to live for.” These are not the same set of circumstances. In the case of Huntington’s disease, the person has a slow and irreversible loss of both mental and physical capacity. In the last stages of this terminal disease, the patient is completely dependent, they can not walk, speak, or swallow. What gives us the right to choose for them. Where as, I would not have the stomach to ever assist in such a thing, I definitely understand why Oregan assigned the title, “Death with Dignity Act”.

I do not consider the case of Terri Schiavo to be the same. Terri was not merely disabled. Her CT scan shows severe atrophy. Her EEG was flat, and 7 different doctors said without a doubt, that she was in a vegatative state. Everything that she once was, was gone. I do not think she would have wanted to live that way. However, Euthanasia is where the physician administers medication that terminates the patient’s life. In the case of Terri, they removed her feeding tube. She was starved and dehydrated to death. The process took 2 weeks. Two Weeks! That was not merciful.

I support Legislation to legalize assisted suicide. A person who is in severe pain or who has an untreatable illness should be allowed to choose if they want to continue to live or commit an assisted suicide. I say that because it is their body and their life, so an individual should have the right to make that choice on their own and not be denied their choice by the law. I think it is more humane to allow a person who is in severe pain or is deathly ill to die and end their own misery, rather than force them to live as long as possible in such great pain.

The topic of assisted suicide is a good one that is debated and been enforced by some different places. I think that is should be the right of the patient to decide whether or not they want to be assisted with their death. The Law really needs to reflect care in making sure that the people with terminal illness are properly diagnosed so that there isn’t a case for a wrongful death suit. As long as the patient is of right mind to make the decision for them self, even with the advances in medicine the person may live longer hoping for a cure. Some may choose not to wait that long and may want to chose the option to end their life at that time.

I strongly support assisted suicide. I believe that if someone is very sick and unable to get better, they have the right to choose not to live. I don’t see the problem with assisted suicide being legal. Sick patients should not have to struggle with pain and live a life that is not fulfilling to their beliefs and values. It’s crueler if assisted suicide was illegal because the ill patient would have no way out of their painfully bedridden life. The choice is up to the patient. Assisted suicide is a proper and fair way for ill patients who want to pass away.

I do support the law making process of legalizing assisted suicide.I think that we should respect and indivduals rights to decide thier own life or death. In addition I belive this should only be done if the patient is very ill and is suffering tremendously.On the other hand I agree with taking extreme measures before going through with this assisted suicide,I agree with having more than one more doctor evalutaing the patient, and determining this sucide upon them.

Yes, i support legislation that legalizes physician assisted suicide. If someone is in so much pain that they can't do anything and all life is to them is pain and suffering nothing else what is the point of staying around in such a horrible condition. I dont think that it is fair for anybody to tell a person in that condition that we dont care how miserable you are, we arent going to let you have a painless death. No, if that is what the person wants and their is no hope for them to recover I see no reason why they cant have sombody perscribe them a combination of drugs that will lead to a painless death.

Personally, I feel half and half about the situation. On one hand "assisted suicide" is just a fancy name for murder and as we all know that is totally wrong. Then on the other hand, when you are in a life or death situation you should be able to decide whether or not you want to continue living in pain. No one should have to live with a pain they can't bare, but at the same time how could you assist in killing them. The only kind of "assisting" that should be done is when a person is or isn't taken off of life support.

I feel that if you want to die you should be able to. I do understand the law and the religious problems, but some people do not have the same views. If an individual chooses to take their life it should be their choice. If you can not control your own life then what can you control. I do believe that taking your own life is extremely selfish and people should think of other options.

I support ligislation that legalizes assisted suicide to some extent. It is a very hard subject to debate on because at the same time a murder could be happening. I think there should be serious guidelines to who has their life ended. The person should be evaluated at least three times by a doctor to be considered a person who has a terminal illness. The person should also be checked out by a psychiatrist, or someone to that sort, before a decision is made. I fully agree with the ideas that Kmabe posted in his/her article. If the person wishes to have their life ended they should have that right because they might try to end it in a much worse way. Assisted suicide can be a very good way of releaving a person from a long term illness, but should be limited in some ways.

I believe in quality of life. I would support legislation on assisted suicide. Hospice and living wills are fair examples of letting people know what your wishes are in the end. In reality what may happen is if you become so severly ill you are unable to make decisions for yourself someone else inevitably will do it for you. Most people count on their family members to carry out their final wishes, but sometimes other family not so close, or even physicians can get involed and change those wishes. This is the main reason why I support assisted suicide. If I was unfortunate to have to deal with a terminal illness I would want to call the shots. I would want to be in control of when enough is enough for me. I wouldn't want my ending days lived out a victim of a court battle or what someone else "thought" was good for me.

Well in my opinion I do support the legislation that legalizes assisted suicides. I am looking at it in this fashion, if I was the one suffering and with no medical cure to help my situation, I believe I may want to have the option. Doesn’t mean that if it happens I will do it, but I want to have the right to do whatever I want with my life. Now regarding the process, I do agree that physicians need to be involved to confirm the diagnosis, as well as psychiatrist to confirm that the patient is in the right mind to make such a decision. I would way prefer this method with checks and balances to have someone die in a horrible fashion hating every last minute of their life. I don’t understand why someone with clear frame of mind would not be allowed to make a decision on what to do with their life.

I do support the right to die only if you are have a fatal disease and are in a great deal of pain. To see someone suffer and slowly die is inhumane. I feel that its the right of the individual who should decide rather to live or die not the justice system. Why should someone else decide your fate? Their not in this person's situation; they don't understand what its like to suffer, so why should they have the final say. I saw my grandmother slowly die from ovarian cancer and she suffered a great deal; I know if I was in that same situation I would want the pain to stop to. No one should have to live like that.

I do not support legislation that would legalize assisted suicide. I do believe people should be able to control their own lives in the pursuit of happiness as long as it does not infringe upon the rights of others or endanger others. If a person is terminally ill and the illness impinges upon that person’s quality of life, I think that person has the right to pursue any course he or she so chooses. I think it is simple enough to overdose on medication without acquainting one’s physician with that intention. In this day and age there are no plenty of over the counter medications that one can ingest that will accomplish the job without involving or requiring a physician or other person to become involved. If the decision is made by someone to end their life it should, if valid, be a private, solitary decision, and be enacted in privacy and solitude. Our legislators and courts have more serious things to worry about that legislating or rendering opinions regarding the issue of assisted suicide.

I believe that assisted suicide is absolutely acceptable. When someone who has an illness that is going to cause them to die anyways it is cruel to keep that person around and leave them in pain. Animal lovers put their animals out of their misery when they have a pain that is incurable and they will eventually die. We do not make the animals suffer and we should not let our loved family members suffer either. I do not believe in suicide however because to me that is a very selfish act, but if someone is suffering and is about to die as long as it is done by a professional doctor it is a completely different situation.

I don’t believe it should be illegal for one to take their own live away when they are in a serious condition of an illness. If one is not in that position, they will never understand what they are going through or all the suffering it’s causing them and their loved ones to see, when the time is going to happen sooner or later. My father just passed away from cancer 4 months ago today and he basically signed papers for the nurses to make him as comfortable and keep him painlessly as possible, yes it’s not the greatest answer to hear, but at the end one will understand why they did what they did.

My son, James was diagnosed with a chronic degenerative disease called Hunter Syndrome when he was just 2 years old. This is a very sensitive topic for me as he is having surgery tomorrow. I personally support assisted suicide, because its hard to tell a person who is chronically suffering that wants to stop suffering by dying to stay suffering. Although, James is not competent enough to make any life decision I don’t know what I would do if he was in constant pain and had bad quality of life I agree that suicide is not the answer, but who am I to make that think of decision for someone else. The only person that should have the right to make a personal decision to either live or die, is the one dealing with a painful and degenerating body on a daily bases. I think the Dutch have a very good legislation. They are giving the person a right to a legal assisted suicide, as long as they have been completely informed on their medical condition and are competent to make that decision. I guess in my case and others who have love ones that are not competent to make such a decision are in a bad position. I would never want to play God. That is why I have a great amount of faith and relationship with God- I know he will guide me through any decisions that needs to be made.

I value my personal rights and feel like in a free society like ours, a person has the right to do whatever they want to do, within the law of course. If a person wants to die for whatever reason, others should not deny that right to them. Of course we want to help a person who wants to commit suicide but if they want to because they have an incurable illness or chronic intense pain, they should have that right. Like the women in the article, if she cant decide if she wants to live or not, then who controls her body? Let the person who wants to die deal with the afterlife, its their decision, not ours.

If someone wants to kill themselves then that's their own business. When someone is terminally ill that must be a difficult life to live being in so much pain. I do support the legislation that legalizes assisted suicides. No one can argue that it's similar to abortion because that is taking someone else’s life without their consent. There is consent in a legalized suicide. I do feel that this should only be a legal act if the doctors diagnose the patient as terminally ill and counseling is provided for the patient and family. This could help them understand if this is the best route to take and really give them time to think about the biggest decision of their life- whether to live or die.

This is a tuff topic to take a stand on. I don’t think that assisted suicide is the right way to go about ending life. But those who say that a person cant commit suicide then they are taking away that person autonomy. I know that some place allow for assisted suicide like Oregon for example. So therefore how can one state allow for suicide and another not. I’m not exactly sure how to answer the question. If it was someone that I loved then I don’t know how I would feel. I think that is the best way to think about it in terms of a loved on in the position.

This is a pretty tough question that I have never really thought about. I guess I would have to say yes, I agree with the legalization of assisted suicide but only with people who are terminally ill. I don't think a healthy person should be able to tell another they are crazy for wanting to face death rather than their illness. A healthy person has no idea what the sick patient is going through. The pain and suffering of terminally ill patients can not be understood by someone who is healthy. I think the idea that someone must be diagnosed as terminally ill by two doctors and has to ask three times, once in writing, is a good rule to go by. I think it is a topic that should have rules and regulations, but I think it is an idea to be considered.

I think this is a pretty touchy subject I guess if I was in chronic pain and suffering all the time but was unable to end my suffering I would want someone else to assist me with it, but at the same time is it really murder? I mean if you have the permission from your patient why deny them the right it is there own body but I do believe if the family asked to do it, it would be a different story. Why not let someone down when every moment of there life is filled with constant suffering. I think it should be legalized when it comes to the person and that doctors should not be looked at as murderers

I am not against assisted suicide being legal. Once a patient reaches a point where their illness is incurable, they should be able to decide whether they want to stay alive or not. Nobody knows the pain that the patient is going threw. The sufferring could become unbareable and then the doctors would be hurting the individual by not cutting off their support. If i were in a situation like that, I wouldn't want someone telling me I had to just live threw it because they think it's inhumane! To me it's inhumane to let another person suffer and not do anything to help them.

Suicide in general should not be legal. I feel they should not call it assisted suicide rather call it euthanasia; Which is the correct word for it, and, mind you that sound so much nicer then suicide. I agree that it is okay as long as patient is not responsive. in easier terms. They have a heart beat but do not have enough brain function to speak or think. I am not sure if you remember terry schivo, but she was in a vegative state but she still had brain function. Her family believed that she would come out of it. Her husband on the other hand wanted to "pull the plug". It ended up being a huge legal case and in the end her husband won. I do not agree with that because she still could have come out of her comma. Euthanasia is where the doctor injects a lethal drug into the IV and in a matter of min they patient is asleep forever. So if you agree with this statement that is fine it's your opinion and it is not wrong. Same if you disagree it is your opinion and it is not wrong. I personally am against it.

What is that saying about anything devastating normally had good intentions? I can see where this subject has its good points, like how Rodriguez said about who owns her body and when we are able to put animals to sleep. But, are we are not animals. When someone is incapcitated, seriously suffering and is wishing for their death, not only must it be hard for the family, but the docter too. But to choose sides I passively agree with the right for assisted sucide. I prefer Oregon's legislature. But, normally, I don't approve of suicide and I believe that God should be the judge. Because I believe that, I also believe that if they want to die, AND THEY ARE SUFFERING, then let them. God will deal with it in his own way and He may not punish anyone like so many think when a person says that God can jugde. Oregon's legislature even gives the patient enough time to really think it over and has it to be a written document. I wish they had demanded a psychologist like Belgium. And I dont approve of lethal injection. For some reason I picture it as cruel.

When it comes to legalizing assisted suicide, I believe that a person must created signed legal documentation regarding his or her own health permitted to another individual. Therefore, when it comes to cases like this they can look back on legal documentation stating whether they would like to be “put to sleep” assisted by a doctor. If a person is terminally ill but can speak and make judgment on their own, they have the right to have someone help them end their pain if they want to. This should be legal for anyone.

I strongly disagree with assisted suicide. It seems like murder to me and I just do not agree with it. I have had family members removed from life support, but that is a different story. When my grandmother was removed from life support to pass away, it was because everything in her body was failing and the machine was the only thing keeping her alive. We did not want her to have to be in pain anymore. I do not understand why some one would want to help a person end their life. And even more than that, I don not see how this can ever be legalized. These "suicide assisters" should be tried as murderers

Wow I didn’t know there was a thing as having an assistant when committing suicide. Just as someone else mention, I believe that is called murder. I oppose legislation that legalizes assisted suicide. It just isn’t right. What is this world turning in to? It’s saying that it’s ok to have some to help you kill your self. That is unmoral and unethical. Suicide is something that I disagree with period. So why would someone need help in killing themselves. They need to prevent it instead of encouraging it. I oppose legislation that legalizes assisted suicide not only because it not right, it’s also unjust.

I think that people should be able to chose their own fate if they want to. If some body does not have an illness and wants to end their own lives they should be able to. On the other hand if a person wants to end their own life but is mentally unstable then they should be treated. If a person is normal and healthy and there is something in their life that is so bad that they want to end their life who are we to tell them no. it is in my opinion better for someone to assist another in suicide than for someone to do it on their own. If someone is assisted then they have a chance basically to say goodbye, and it is less likely that they will do it in a gruesome manner.

This subject is a very controversal subject to me, If someone really wants to die or feels the need to die , it is there own body they should do what they want.The Goverment i see is just trying to protect people from killing themselves, but just as in animal hospitals, if an animal is found half dead or just in excrutiating pain , the doctors administer a lethal injection to put these animals to sleep. Humans , i guess, also want this same right and i can see why if a person is in alot of pain or has a deadly desease and can not be cured,and if they feel bad enough, they just would want to die, and a doctor seeing the petient in this pain wold feel bad enough to help.I have not come up with a side yet, but in the end it is up to the individual if he/she wants to live.

I think that assisted suicide should be legal. A person who is terminally ill should have the right to die. If someone who is in great pain and has no hope of getting any better, why make them suffer, that is more like torture. If somebody is going to commit suicide on their own, it will probably be in a painful way or in a way that may not kill them all the way and just make the person brain dead. I do think that there should be very strict guidelines to determine whether a not a physician can assist in the suicide of another human being. Like it says in the article, there should be two physicians that agree on the persons health, there should be a psychologist to determine whether or not that person is competant to make the decision to die, and I think that the person should ask multiple times, even in writing, so there is no qestion that the person wants to die.

I think that assisted suicide should be legal. A person who is terminally ill should have the right to die. If someone who is in great pain and has no hope of getting any better, why make them suffer, that is more like torture. If somebody is going to commit suicide on their own, it will probably be in a painful way or in a way that may not kill them all the way and just make the person brain dead. I do think that there should be very strict guidelines to determine whether a not a physician can assist in the suicide of another human being. Like it says in the article, there should be two physicians that agree on the persons health, there should be a psychologist to determine whether or not that person is competant to make the decision to die, and I think that the person should ask multiple times, even in writing, so there is no qestion that the person wants to die.

I believe all forms of suicide are wrong and intolerable. It is wrong to take your own life or the life of others. The people that involve themselves with assisting suicide are commiting murder. I cant imagine that people suffering are suffering so much that they want to kill themselves. Although I do feel sorry for the terminally ill, but some one should never take their own life. Their are many ways were treatment helps the people that are teriminally ill and just to refuse them may not be the best thing to do. Assisted suicide should be illegal all over the world.

I believe all forms of suicide are wrong and intolerable. It is wrong to take your own life or the life of others. The people that involve themselves with assisting suicide are commiting murder. I cant imagine that people suffering are suffering so much that they want to kill themselves. Although I do feel sorry for the terminally ill, but some one should never take their own life. Their are many ways were treatment helps the people that are teriminally ill and just to refuse them may not be the best thing to do. Assisted suicide should be illegal all over the world.

I personally believe in legalizing assisted suicide because what if you have a family member who has an illness and writes on their living will that they do not want to live if the situation becomes near fatal. Some individuals rather die without pain then with. I say if it had to be making the decision on my family member and they instructed a physician to do with my consent, then grant their wishes. In all it is not up to us to decide what right or immoral but rather what do most people want when they come to that situation.

I think that this should be legal, but i guess no one would really understand the situation until they've been in it. This isn't murder, if this were back in old times the person would already be dead. If they cant live without life support, than how can you expect them to enjoy life by sitting in a bed all day long. The decision should be up to the patient whether or not they want to stay on life support, not the family or the state, this decision should soley rest upon the person who it is effecting. If the person wants to end their life then let them end it.

I think that this should be legal, but i guess no one would really understand the situation until they've been in it. This isn't murder, if this were back in old times the person would already be dead. If they cant live without life support, than how can you expect them to enjoy life by sitting in a bed all day long. The decision should be up to the patient whether or not they want to stay on life support, not the family or the state, this decision should soley rest upon the person who it is effecting. If the person wants to end their life then let them end it.

This is a very difficult topic because every person and every case is different. Killing another human being is murder, weather they ask you to or not. However, it is difficult to decide what to do if someone is just going to kill themselves anyway. I think it is more humane to give someone an intravenous drip of morphine,than to let them go hang themselves. I also think it is a good idea to have points of view from several doctors and psychologist before doing so. Every person in this world is completely different from the next. There is no way you can say for sure what should be done for such a broad topic.

I do support the legislation that legalizes assisted suicide to those people that just can’t function on their own and are suffering badly. I mean of course having the consent of the family because I know if I had a loved one really sick I would want them to try everything possible to help them keep them alive. But if given the consent then that’s a different story. It just keeps them from suffering and if that’s their choice then why not let them do it. I know for sure if I was dieing painfully in a bed I would just rather die then being put through all that.

Assisted suicide is murder and always will be now if some one wants to commit suicide on their own thats no one else's business but as soon as you bring another person in the picture then you've got a problem. No one should ever participate in the destruction of another life and assisted suicide is just that. If someone needs assistance with suicide then they are not completely sure that that's a road they wish to travel down. Assistance is like a safety net in case you chicken out, but if you do wise up its obviously because you can think of something worth living for so then why would you want some one else to murder you? Therefore no i do not think that assisted suicide should be legal

To be completely honest with you I think assisted suicide should be legal. If someone is suffering badly enough where he or she does not want to live anymore he or she should have there own decision if they want to live or not. Say if you’re a really old person just lying in bed suffering not having anything to do but just lay there in pain waiting to die. I think that person should have a choice to go out peacefully. But there should be circumstances where u shouldn’t be able to get "assisted" suicide. Like say someone is just really stressed out and just wants to end there life he or she should not be able to do that of course. I think only for certain circumstances should assisted suicide be legal.

I believe every human being has control of their own destiny. Of course there are some people who are born in this world who are not capable of making rational decision because of an mental illness. But for any one who can make a conscious decision they should have the right to do what ever the want to do with their body. For a doctor to come and take a life from some on else that is wrong. A doctor should not interact with the process of a persons own suicide that process should be the responsibility of the person looking for an escape. Maybe give them the pill or needle, but not actually inject it. Legislation that allows a sick person to free them selves from torment to me is humanly correct.

Personally, I do not support legislation that legalizes assisted suicide. The process of assisted suicide is quite plainly murder. How would you go about determining or finding out if your patient would like to die. Would you ask? Would you see that they aren’t happy, and then approach them about it. A lot of the time, the patient is taking medications, which may even impair their judgment, thus causing them to think they would like to die. It is in Gods hands who lives and who dies, let’s leave it at that. Lets be patient and wait our turn to leave this earth. Your life may have an impact on another.

I don’t mind legislation that would allow assisted suicide legal. Even though a person is killing a person it doesn’t bother me because the first person wanted to die anyways. Know I think that there should be assisted suicide only for people with terminal illness that causes a tremendous amount of pain. If a person doesn’t want to go through that kind of pain day after day I don’t see anything wrong with assisted suicide. I think though that the person should have to talk it over with family and close friends. But assisted suicide should not be allowed for everyone.

I have never seen or heard anything about assisted sucided, but I do not agree with the assisted suicide. I look at assisted suicide as a type of murder. It seems to me that If you want some one to help you kill your self... that is considered assisted murder (of your self). I think that if you are able to keep someone from killing them selves then they should do so, and take them to get some type of help or counseling. If that does not work, or is refused then I think that police enforcement needs to be established.

I most definitely do not agree with assisted suicide. I feel that no matter what the circumstances are, it’s murder. If a person is in serious pain then they should be given pain medication, not lethal injection. I have seen someone taken off of life support and it is just devastating to see. How could someone assist in ending a person’s life if it doesn’t have to be that way? If a person is in so much pain and they feel that the only thing left for them is to die, then that is their business, but when another person is brought into the picture, it’s murder.

I have to agree with Tink1213. I think that assisted suicide is murder. I too have watched a loved one being taken off of life support and it is very devastating. I understand the wish of some people to help end the pain of a loved one, but it's to big of a call to make. As human beings we are so in tune with what we as an individual want that in now way, in my opinion, can we make such a huge decision for another human being! I understand where the idea of assisted suicide comes from, but I still can't get over the fact that essentially you are killing that person when you help them to die. The ramifications of the whole idea are to much for me, and I pray that something of this nature is never brought before me.

I do not support assisted suicide. The person helping the patient kill themselves is an accomplice and should be tried as one. I do not believe anyone should help anyone kill. If a person is deciding to commit suicide and needs help, then I would think they are having second thoughts. They should not involve others in the process. If someone wants to inflict pain or death on themselves then it should be a personal experience not a partnership.

I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE YOUR CHOICE TO LIVE OR DIE! AS STATED IN THE ARTICLE, ISN'T IT MY BODY, DONT I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE. I THINK THAT FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE YOUR RIGHTS AWAY FROM YOU AS A PERSON IS WRONG. NOW IN THE SAME SENSE I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE STICTLY MANDATED FOR EVERYONES PROTECTION. I KNOW THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME AND I COULDNT BE MYSELF I WOULD WANT MY FAMILY AND LOVED ONES TO LOVE ME ENOUGH TO LET ME GO. THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT I WOULD NOT WANT TO LIVE IN THAT STATE. IN ONE OF THE OTHER COMMENTS SOMEONE STATED THAT IT IS OK TO REMOVE LIFE SUPPORT BUT ITS MURDER TO ASSIST SOMEONE IN SUICIDE. HOW ARE THEY REALLY DIFFERENT. ALSO, SOMEONE ON LIFE SUPPORT MAY NOT FEEL THE DAILY PAIN AND MISERY SOMEONE GOES THROUGH WITH A TERMINAL DISEASE. THE PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THIS DAILY PAIN KNOW ITS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE SHOULDNT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS.

When animals/pets are terminally ill most would agree that the ONLY humane thing to do, the best option, would be to 'put the animal to sleep'. While people are not animals, pain is felt the same way and like all animals, every person will eventually die. I do not believe that in the case of a terminally ill person, the long- process of death is one that should be forced because assisted suicide is not legalized.

I think that Assisted suicide should be permitted. If the person has an illness that the pain and suffering is unbearable. Now don't get me wrong but this brings to mind Terry Schiavo, the lady that was in veg. condition and her husband ordered to take her of life support. How did he knew that's what she wanted if she couldn't talk to say it. In that scenario it would be wrong to call it assisted suicide. If the person is capable of demanding such rights then it should be granted. I think its more cruel to have them living in agony then to stop their pain and suffering.

I have to say that I oppose in legalizing assisted suicide. Whether or not the patient has an illness, suicide is wanting to take your own life. Terry Schiavo didn't want to kill herself, she was sick and by rights it was time to let her rest in peace. If someone plans out a way to kill themselves and puts enough thought into their own death as to need assistance, that is when it is a mental illness. Terry Schiavo didn't have a mental illness and I'm pretty sure she didn't want to end her life before she became sick. Suicide and illnesses are two completely different situations. Thoughts of suicide are sick problems that many people suffer from. I personally agree with mledoux, assisting in someone's plan on killing themselves is murder. Suicide and murder alike are sick problems people face. Maybe instead of trying to legalize assisted suicide we should try to assist in stopping suicide attempts. I feel that would be the smart thing to do.

I am all in for assisted suicide. If I ever ended up in a vegitative state, I always tell my family to pull the plug. I personally prefer not to end up like Terri Schiavo. She was in a coma for well over a decade. For the patients that are diagnosed with a painful terminal disease, assisted suicide wouldn't be a bad option for them. I can imagine the benefits this would bring to the younger generation. Think of all the senior citizens that are struggling to pay for medication and use our medicare programs to treat their terminal illnesses. If they decide to just "throw in the towel," that's one less person the government has to support. This may sound a little cruel but I'm just pretty sick of hearing old people tell me "By the time you retire, there won't be any Social Security or Medicare left for you." I find that to be a reality in the future after the recent deficit of over $80 billion in the US budget. This will be an option to offset some of the health costs.I feel this should be an option only after the patient has had sufficient counceling and diagnosed by several doctors.

I am definitely against legalization of assisted suicide. Think about it, we already have another word for it, murder. If you are helping someone decided whether or not they want to take their life, you might as well just do it for them. No one has the right to take away another person’s life besides God. Making it legal for someone to assist another person is suicide is almost exactly like legalizing murder. I can understand that if someone was in pain, they would want to die, but when the time is right, the time will come.